Venice, Italy

[Dark Vampire of Night]

Francesco didn't hear her, as her voice had been too quiet. Instead, he clapped his hand and said merrily, "Well, it looks like everyone is getting tired. Mister Vicichi, how about one of my servants escort you to your room-"

"Stay still," Talim said quickly. She looked around and swallowed thickly, noting that the air felt like it was growing heavy. Clasping her hands together, she murmured words to her deity and said, "No one is to leave this house. It's dangerous out there." Unbeknownst to her, Zwei had already left.

"Oh? I think something is wrong. But I can't decide what it is. Miss. I am just a hired sword. Let me do my job and search the area to see if there is an intruder." Michael said to the Wind Priestess with a commanding tone. He wouldn't want to risk her or anyone else being hurt. But of course. His words might fall on deaf ears. As a lot of people don't really listen to him.

[RayLeonardo]

Even with his body feeling like lead, RayLeonardo couldn't rest, knowing what he had to do.

If I'm going to beat that bastard, I need to find something that can kill him.

The young man meditated on this, thinking of different solutions when it came to him.

...Soul Calibur. It seems to possess the power necessary,it was what I originally set out to find. Until Talim spoke of it's true nature; however, it's the only power I can think of that can do it.
[/i]
He thought back to the diamond shard that the wolf man and his animal companion took.

That shard could provide answers too. I need to take the shard back from him somehow.

The problem was, in his condition and without a spear he couldn't fight on even ground with him.

What if I use silver? I don't know if that will actually work but...maybe if I *gulp* talk to Talim.

The thought of facing Talim, let alone asking her to do this was causing a bad feeling in his stomach.

I have no choice though, even if I were to fight the werewolf I would still have to face her. However, I cant even fight,so my only choice is to use my words instead.

He looked over at a small knife that was on the nightstand next to him.

I might need a back up plan

He grabbed the knife and hid it in his back pocket.

"Blonde-hair, I need you to help take me back to the wolfman. I have a shard to retrieve."

[Amy Sorel]

Ludovigo was first gazing at RayLeonardo with some questionning; even if not moving, the young man seemed agitated and in deep thoughts.

But then RayLeonardo’s gaze turned to the nightstand and he picked a small knife that Ludovigo hadn’t noticed before. What was that knife doing here? Did it belong to that guy? Dampierre would have put it there after bringing RayLeonardo here or did it belong to Dampierre himself and he would have forgot it there? The con man had so many hidden weapons… But before Ludovigo could do or say anything, the young noble adressed him :

"Blonde-hair, I need you to help take me back to the wolfman. I have a shard to retrieve."

Ludovigo was pleased that RayLeonardo wanted to get back that diamond. Somehow it took away his own hesitations and dilemma about it. Yet he still wondered what he would do about it; just helping that guy, hoping for a reward from his rich family or steal his shard away? But that was later… no need to think about it already… He then answered on a serous tone:

"Va bene signor Sarosi, I’ll come with you to look for that wolfman. …By the way I didn’t tell you my name? It’s Ludovigo."

Not blonde-hair, thought the thief who was surprised to be called that way and didn’t really appreciate it.

"Nice to meet you." continued the thief as he extended his hand to RayLeonardo on a suddenly more cheerful tone.

"And don’t worry, in my native city, with all the contacts I know, we’ll find that wolfman in no time!"

He then turned serious again and also looked worried.

"But… huh… are you fine enough right now? Do you want to eat something before? You may still be weak…"

[Dark Vampire of Night]

Not heeding Talim's word. Michael heads outside to find what has happened that Talim has detected.
"Hmph. Guess I will take control of this part on my own. Still have some vigor left." The vampire said to himself as he drew his rapier and cracked his left arm, his sword arm. Normally all swordsmen have been right handed. Those said to use the sword with the left hand are abnormal beings. In Michael's case. He was a vampire, sure it didn't matter what hand he used. But he felt more comfortable using a rapier in the left hand.

Jovanna's ghostly spirit appears next to Michael, worrying that he might fall in combat due to lack of rest. Yet she knows that her friend will not fall so easily due to sleep.

[RayLeonardo]

Weak as RayLeonardo seemed, he would not allow it to change his plan. That wolf man needed to be found and the shard returned. By force if he had to, he didn't have time for nonsense. As long as the dark god that ruined him still lived, Ray would not stop.

No more games, no more false moral postering,and no more misguided altruism. This was personal now.

"I'll eat when I have that shard in my hand, Ludovigo. Now...let's..."

RayLeonardo almost fell down but caught himself, he can feel his sapped energy and wounds taking their toll.

"...I need to use that technique."

He looked over at Ludovigo.

"This plan is very risky, possibly fatal on my part if I'm not careful, but it's the only way I can take down the wolf man...and you probably need to help me walk there again."

In the young mans state, he could very well exhaust himself to the point of death. That's why he needed to use cunning. A test of willpower and survival awaited.

[Amy Sorel]

"I'll eat when I have that shard in my hand, Ludovigo. Now...let's..."

Could take a while, thought Ludovigo who then tought that it was kind of pessimistic to think that… maybe they would find the werewolf in some hours… He was still not far…

Yet Ludovigo thought that RayLeonardo seemed really weak, it may impede on their search… And the young man proved his weakness when he almost fell down in front of Ludovigo. The Italian man looked at him with some concern but said nothing until RayLeonardo continued speaking.

"...I need to use that technique."

Huh? What technique? What is he talking about? Thought the blond thief with some confusion.

RayLeonardo looked over at Ludovigo.

"This plan is very risky, possibly fatal on my part if I'm not careful, but it's the only way I can take down the wolf man...and you probably need to help me walk there again."

Ludovigo was still confused.

"Huhh… What plan? Only find the werewolf? Or something more elaborate?"

But he then added :

"…We’ll go back to where we lost him and the vampire and then try to track him by asking around. Like I said I know many people to ask. Is that okay or do you have another plan? …The werewolf was also looking for a girl with green hair and I don’t think it is who I thought it was yet if we learn about some green haired girl, it may lead us to him."

Ludovigo then added after a while.

"…Once we find the werewolf, we can wait to catch him while he is sleeping and grab his diamond without hurting him… He’s not a bad guy… Yet his wolf creature could hurt us… but… don’t worry, I’ll protect you. You’re not in a very good condition, like you said… and you said you could die, you better be really careful. We’ll take some cheese and bread to bring along in case. Would some wine make you feel better? But I still guess it’s really the shard that will make you feel better? …What is that thing exactly? But you’re not forced to answer me…

Ludovigo really wondered what was that diamond indeed. What was that man’s story? But that shard really was special… His magical sword slightly reacted near the shard and the vampire and it never did anything of the sort before, never showed any magical abilities in fact, but he didn’t know if it reacted for the shard or the vampire or the ghost or whatever. And he was near the shard, vampire, ghost and everything when it happened. He probably won’t be able to follow the shard with it… Asking around may probably be the best option…

He still wondered if his boss would come along but maybe they would go now and he would follow later…RayLeonardo may not wait for his shard… Maybe he should just leave his boss another written note…

---

After Solnhofen sent Bangoo on Zwei’s trail so that his pupil could prove himself, the vampire began looking for the werewolf as well… A little competition with his minion would be fun and a challenge for Bangoo who would be punished if he should lose… But as he was entering the city where the werewolf was last seen, Solnhofen suddenly sensed something : Soul Edge… Was it the werewolf? Or something or somebody else?

He began to follow that trail and after a while, he found the man this evil energy was coming from. A pale young man with dark hair… with a ghostly girl by his side… What was that? Who was that?

Yet Solnhofen had seen a lot of supernatural things so he wasn’t impressed by a ghost and a malfested… But a malfested vampire? Was it what he was feeling that man was? The evil assassin walked toward the duo in the deserted street.

"You. You’re a Soul Edge tainted … A vampire?"

Solnhofen was asking him in a not directly hostile way but in a straight way. He then added as he gazed at both the vampire and the ghost:

"I didn’t come to fight you. I’m malfested like you. I’m looking for a werewolf boy…"

He wondered if he could recruit the vampire and the ghost for Soul Edge but he was also preparing for a confrontation by holding his rapier tight if that vampire was not seeing him as a kin. He knew he wasn’t the most likeable of person since he never really did sociable things in his life and was mostly used to kill and beat people. And malfested never were the most sociable persons either so that malfested could also attack him quite fast.

[Dark Vampire of Night]

"You. You’re a Soul Edge tainted … A vampire?"

Solnhofen was asking him in a not directly hostile way but in a straight way. He then added as he gazed at both the vampire and the ghost:

"I didn’t come to fight you. I’m malfested like you. I’m looking for a werewolf boy…"

He wondered if he could recruit the vampire and the ghost for Soul Edge but he was also preparing for a confrontation by holding his rapier tight if that vampire was not seeing him as a kin. He knew he wasn’t the most likeable of person since he never really did sociable things in his life and was mostly used to kill and beat people. And malfested never were the most sociable persons either so that malfested could also attack him quite fast.

Michael looked at the assassin with his red eyes, a tone of a little protection due to it being Zwei he calmly says:

"If you are looking for him and you are not apart of the people inside the home I was just in. Your an enemy."

Jovanna looked at Michael with a concerned look, was he able to fight the man in front of him in his condition? But she had hope that Michael can defeat the assassin.

Making a quick hand gesture, Michael draws his rapier and brings it in front of him pointing it upward. "I hope you are prepared."

[Amy Sorel]

"Of course I’m prepared. I’m always prepared to kill." Said the vampire on a slightly amused and calm tone while preparing to fight and taking his fighting stance.

"You’ll kneel and ask for merci quite fast…"

Solnhofen then launched at Michael, trying to pierce his heart with his rapier.

[Dark Vampire of Night]

Seeing as how the assassin fights with a rapier, the vampire dodges with a quick step to the side and gives a painful boot to the side of Solnhofen.
"I seen better rapier work when I was younger. You need work with your sword dance." The vampire says spitefully and goes for two stabbing attacks at once with his rapier. As his knowledge with rapier combat is vast versus Solnhofen. "As they say. Grace is important during duels."

[Amy Sorel]

"I seen better rapier work when I was younger. You need work with your sword dance."

"How dare you…" growled the assassin as he stumble after the painful boot. The birds of Prey were probably the European assassin organisation with the most graceful fighters. But not having time to be insulted, Solnhofen then quickly tries too avoid the two stabs. One of them slides on his chainmail while the other is completely avoided. He then makes some steps away and asks :

"Is that little wolf cub your kid or what? Why do you protect him?"

[Dark Vampire of Night]

"Is that little wolf cub your kid or what? Why do you protect him?"

Michael taps his chin with his right hand. "None of your business assassin. Either I protect the wolf child or rip him to pieces that is my concern. Not yours!" His footsteps are fast and he makes a lethal lunge towards the chainmail. Hoping to get the fatal mark.

[Amy Sorel]

Solnhofen knew that he had to protect his heart from some fatal strike. Even if he had a chainmail (and no heart in a certain way), he was not invincible so as Michael launched at him he tried to deflect the blade with his own but the pointy blade entered some of his chainmail arm protection and ripped it, making the vampire bleed. Solnhofen grabbed his rapier even more tightly and quickly slashed at Michael to make him back away as he tried to find some good opportunity to strike.

"So it may not be affection for the kid but revenge?"

[Dark Vampire of Night]

Using a graceful dodging method he learned, Michael backed away after the counter attack from the assassin's slender rapier.

So it may not be affection for the kid but revenge?"

Michael only response to that is two vicious kicks, one to the chest, the other to the head. "How about you mind your own business non va bene bastardo. Before I rip that mouth off." Tracing his rapier work to the side of Solnhofen's chest.

[Amy Sorel]

Mostly watching the vampire's blade, Solnhofen was not fast enough to suddenly avoid the two fast kicks and as the first one began to push him back, the other made him fall down on the ground after smashing his nose. Since he was intending to discreetly look for the young werewolf, he had decided to not wear his mask and he now regretted it.

"How about you mind your own business non va bene bastardo. Before I rip that mouth off."

Licking the blood that came from his nose bleed, Solnhofen looked at Michael with an evil air. He didn't understand every Italian words since he was not a language expert even if he knew many languages but many only to basic skills but bastardo was quite easy to understand. And the threat his enemy made after was even more annoying. The vampire assassin kicked Michael away to get get rid of the blade threatening him and rolled back before he tried getting up.

[RayLeonardo]

RayLeonardo sighed and realized Ludovigo was probably right. The wolf man was not someone he should kill, and it defintely not worth risking the technique he was going to use on him.

"Perhaps you're right what I was going to do was...beyond reckless."

He struggled standing up and looked and the blonde italian.

"You see...there's this thing I was taught and it's like a last resort, especially if I have no weapon."

RayLeonardo started breathing less heavy now, trying to control himself. The lack of his shard seemed almost like he lost his beating heart.

"It's a 'berserk trance.' Have you ever heard of it? Probably only from viking stories but you see people only think it's getting angry and swing around wildly but its not."

He started heading out the door.

"It's like when the pat of your body that gives you strength in times of need like adrenaline, and the opposite part that is active while resting and helps heal you. Some researchers and even a few remaining alchemists call this the sympathetic nervous system and the para-sympathetic nervous system, respectively. These two parts almost NEVER are active at the some time as its opposite. The 'Berserk State',however, forces both to do just that.Unlike people who simply charge in angry without a thought and makes them clumsy and unable to thinks straight, The berserk state is the opposite."

RayLeonardo pointed to his skull. "Your mind actually sees things like they've slowed down, almost moving through molasses. Your muscle power and ability to react increase immensely, and you can feel almost any pain at all...but it comes at a cost."

He pointed to his heart.

"It puts intense stress on your body and even your mind, especially being in it too long. Also your movements are involuntary and often cant distinguish friend from foe. It will usually last until you or your foe drop dead. If you're in it too long, it can cause you permanent damage, or kill you. Especially in my condition."

Rayleonardo coughed a bit.

"Also it takes large pent up anger or 'woad' under critical and intense situations...or you can use a drug. That's less healthy if you're body is not fit to use it."

He walked out onto the steps
"But i'm sorry for boring you with that, just a little something to let you in on. But let's move on. If I can't beat the wolf, then perhaps I'll have to ask someone about him...as well as the shard. And I know EXACTLY who to ask, and they'd better have answers for me after what happened."

He looked over at the blond haired man and smiled.

"Feel like a trip to Rome?"